Athletics News Release

Union Lady Bulldogs Win NAIA National Championship

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/22/2005 - The Union University Lady Bulldogs won the 2005 NAIA National Basketball Championship with a 67-63 win over Oklahoma City in the title game on Tuesday night at Oman Arena. For Union (35-5), this is the second NAIA Women's National Title (1998, 2005) and the first for sixth year head coach Mark Campbell.

Union led 30-29 at halftime and then stretched that lead to 17 points (59-42) with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Oklahoma City slowly crept back and pulled to within two points with 27 seconds left. Union held that two-point lead as Ena Daniels, a 64% free-throw shooter for the year, stepped to the line and made both free throws with eight second remaining. Union led by four, 67-63, and after a turnover by Oklahoma City on the inbounds play, the game was sealed for Union.

Union had several honored by the NAIA. Senior forward Stephanie Clark was named the NAIA Co-Player of the Year, along with Lisa Faulkner of Vangurd. Clark was also named a repeat first team All-American. Freshman guard, Merideth Richardson was named an NAIA All-American honorable mentioned. Clark was also named the NAIA National Tournament MVP, as well as, being named to the all-tournament team. Merideth Richardson and Ena Daniels joined Clark for Union on the all-tournament team. Union's senior guard, Monica Elliot earned the NAIA National Tournament Hustle Award.

“You cannot describe the feeling we are going through right now,” said Campbell. "What is great is the satisfaction is watching the girls enjoy something that is not easy to achieve. It is awesome to see the players do so well, and come together at a time like this.”

Freshman Merideth Richardson led Union with 15 points on 5-for-15 shooting from the floor, and 3-for-13 shooting from behind the arc. Richardson finished the tournament with 18 total three-pointers, one short of the all-time tournament record of 19.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Stephanie Clark was held to 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, while grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds. Jennifer Henson chipped in with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the floor, all three-pointers, while Ena Daniels chipped in with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting from the floor. Daniels finished the tournament with 26 steals, three of the
tournament record of 29.

Union shot just 39.7 (25-for-63) percent from the floor, while hitting on just 31 (9-for-29) percent from behind the arc.

Natasha Doh led Oklahoma City with a game-high 24 points on 9-for-20 shooting, and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Sadio Sangare chipped with 18 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the floor for Oklahoma City, making their seventh consecutive trip to the national
championship game.

The Stars shot 40.6 (26-for-64) percent from the floor, while connecting on 36.4 (4-for-11) percent from behind the arc.

“A lot of people expected us not to be here,” said Stars senior Kenzi Bond. “I am proud that we have been here three straight years. Being the runner-up for three years in a row has been tough, but being the number two team in the country is pretty good.”

A couple of NAIA National Tournament records were broken in the process of the national championship game as Oklahoma City University broke the total points scored in a tournament by
scoring their 418 point tonight. The old record was 413 set by Oklahoma City in 2003. Union University broke the tournament record for three-pointers in one tournament, shattering the old mark of 35 set by Southeastern Oklahoma in 1995. The Lady Bulldogs hit 51 for the tournament.

Oklahoma City concludes their season at 32-7, while Union concludes their championship season with a 35-5 record.

“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity from the Lord to work at Union, and to do what I love and to get paid for it,” said an emotional Campbell.

Tournament Records
Assists in One Game by and Individual: 17, Lisa Faulkner, Vanguard (Calif.) vs.
Edward Waters (Fla.)
Points in a Tournament: 418, Oklahoma City UniversityThree-Point Field Goals Made in a Tournament: 51, Union University